Delia Smith's candid admission about how the Norwich City board 'got it wrong' last season has received a mixed reaction from fans.

The joint-majority shareholder said the club had made a mistake not sacking former manager Chris Hughton in January.

She suggested that, had they done so, the side could have avoided relegation.

Hughton was replaced in April, but, in his five games in charge, new manager Neil Adams was unable to keep the club in the Premier League.

Explaining the decision to stick with Hughton in January, Smith said: 'We didn't feel at that time there was anybody out there.

'We got it wrong. It might have happened where if we got a caretaker manager we might have stayed up. But there was no guarantee.'

The comments reignited debate on Twitter over the Canaries woeful season, with some fans disagreeing that there were no suitable candidates in January, and endorsing her admission that 'we got it wrong'.

One said it was 'nonsense' there were no alternatives.

Others, however, praised Delia and the board for their 'sensible' approach.

Smith, who was interviewed on BBC Radio Norfolk, along with her husband Michael Wynn-Jones and chief executive David McNally, said she felt the season had a 'deadly curse' on it.

'Whatever we did didn't seem to work,' she added.

Wynn-Jones also pleaded with City fans to have faith in the club's board, saying: 'All supporters have a right to criticise, to air their views, I rather like it when it's informed views rather than through prejudice.

'You mention the overall history we've been directors for 18 years or so and I've supported this club for 61 years and I know in Norfolk terms that's not a lot but nevertheless, it does give a certain sense of perspective.

'It doesn't diminish the frustrations of going down, but we've been involved on the board for three relegations and three promotions and now we're looking to make it 4-3 (for promotions).'

The couple also said they would not leave the club, unless it was 'in good hands'.